Latest news with #CameronBrewer
Scoop
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Member's Bill Would Reduce The Number Of Auckland Local Boards
Press Release – New Zealand National Party The bill would amend section the Local Government Act to set a statutory cap on Auckland local board numbers at 15. However, this does not necessarily mean fewer local board members currently at 149. A new Member's bill that would reduce the number of local boards in Auckland from 21 to 15 would make local Government in Auckland more efficient, says National MP for Upper Harbour, Cameron Brewer. 'Last year, Auckland Council established a Joint Governance Working Group to explore options to reorganise local boards to improve efficiencies and better align governance structures. 'The working party's 'Local Board Reorganisation Plan – Next Steps' report estimated that the potential efficiencies to be $6.9m per annum. Identified one-off costs associated with the reorganisation were estimated at $1.9m. 'In the end, despite significant potential savings for Auckland ratepayers, the proposal did not proceed to public consultation last year. Most councillors chose not to advance it, nor seek the support or views from Aucklanders. 'My Member's bill would effectively align the number of local boards with the number of council wards. This would mean 13 local boards aligned with the 13 existing council wards. However, as the working party also proposed, the provision for two additional boards – one for Waiheke Island and one for Great Barrier Island, given their distinct characteristics and needs. 'The bill would amend section the Local Government Act to set a statutory cap on Auckland local board numbers at 15. However, this does not necessarily mean fewer local board members – currently at 149. 'This bill aligns with National's aim to achieve greater efficiencies for taxpayers and ratepayers, reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, while maintaining strong and effective local representation. It now just needs to get drawn from the ballot, so Aucklanders can have their say,' says Mr Brewer.
Scoop
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Member's Bill Would Reduce The Number Of Auckland Local Boards
Press Release – New Zealand National Party A new Member's bill that would reduce the number of local boards in Auckland from 21 to 15 would make local Government in Auckland more efficient, says National MP for Upper Harbour, Cameron Brewer. 'Last year, Auckland Council established a Joint Governance Working Group to explore options to reorganise local boards to improve efficiencies and better align governance structures. 'The working party's 'Local Board Reorganisation Plan – Next Steps' report estimated that the potential efficiencies to be $6.9m per annum. Identified one-off costs associated with the reorganisation were estimated at $1.9m. 'In the end, despite significant potential savings for Auckland ratepayers, the proposal did not proceed to public consultation last year. Most councillors chose not to advance it, nor seek the support or views from Aucklanders. 'My Member's bill would effectively align the number of local boards with the number of council wards. This would mean 13 local boards aligned with the 13 existing council wards. However, as the working party also proposed, the provision for two additional boards – one for Waiheke Island and one for Great Barrier Island, given their distinct characteristics and needs. 'The bill would amend section the Local Government Act to set a statutory cap on Auckland local board numbers at 15. However, this does not necessarily mean fewer local board members – currently at 149. 'This bill aligns with National's aim to achieve greater efficiencies for taxpayers and ratepayers, reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, while maintaining strong and effective local representation. It now just needs to get drawn from the ballot, so Aucklanders can have their say,' says Mr Brewer.
Scoop
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Member's Bill Would Reduce The Number Of Auckland Local Boards
A new Member's bill that would reduce the number of local boards in Auckland from 21 to 15 would make local Government in Auckland more efficient, says National MP for Upper Harbour, Cameron Brewer. 'Last year, Auckland Council established a Joint Governance Working Group to explore options to reorganise local boards to improve efficiencies and better align governance structures. 'The working party's 'Local Board Reorganisation Plan – Next Steps' report estimated that the potential efficiencies to be $6.9m per annum. Identified one-off costs associated with the reorganisation were estimated at $1.9m. 'In the end, despite significant potential savings for Auckland ratepayers, the proposal did not proceed to public consultation last year. Most councillors chose not to advance it, nor seek the support or views from Aucklanders. 'My Member's bill would effectively align the number of local boards with the number of council wards. This would mean 13 local boards aligned with the 13 existing council wards. However, as the working party also proposed, the provision for two additional boards – one for Waiheke Island and one for Great Barrier Island, given their distinct characteristics and needs. 'The bill would amend section the Local Government Act to set a statutory cap on Auckland local board numbers at 15. However, this does not necessarily mean fewer local board members – currently at 149. 'This bill aligns with National's aim to achieve greater efficiencies for taxpayers and ratepayers, reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, while maintaining strong and effective local representation. It now just needs to get drawn from the ballot, so Aucklanders can have their say,' says Mr Brewer.
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Have Your Say On Public Finance Amendment Bill
Press Release – The Finance and Expenditure Committee He says the changes also dispense with the requirement for Treasury to produce a Wellbeing Report every four years. Whats more, governments will no long have to articulate the wellbeing objectives that guide Budget decisions. The Chair of the Finance and Expenditure Committee is calling for submissions on the Public Finance Amendment Bill. The closing date for submissions is 11.59pm on Monday, 7 July 2025. 'The proposed changes will enhance the transparency and accountability of our public finance system. They specifically aim to make the extent of fiscal risks clearer for incoming governments,' says Chair of the Finance and Expenditure Committee, Cameron Brewer. He says the changes also dispense with the requirement for Treasury to produce a Wellbeing Report every four years. What's more, governments will no long have to articulate the wellbeing objectives that guide Budget decisions. 'A second tranche of reforms to the Public Finance Act is likely next year, once our committee has completed its inquiry into performance reporting and public accountability,' says Mr Brewer. The bill would amend the Public Finance Act 1989. Among other things, the bill would: introduce more specific disclosure requirements for the statement of specific fiscal risks introduce a requirement to publish a tax expenditure statement repeal the requirement to articulate wellbeing objectives in the Budget Policy Statement repeal the requirement to prepare a wellbeing report amend the publication window for the pre-election economic and fiscal update. Tell the Finance and Expenditure Committee what you think: Make a submission on the bill by 11.59pm on Monday, 7 July 2025.
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Have Your Say On Public Finance Amendment Bill
The Chair of the Finance and Expenditure Committee is calling for submissions on the Public Finance Amendment Bill. The closing date for submissions is 11.59pm on Monday, 7 July 2025. 'The proposed changes will enhance the transparency and accountability of our public finance system. They specifically aim to make the extent of fiscal risks clearer for incoming governments,' says Chair of the Finance and Expenditure Committee, Cameron Brewer. He says the changes also dispense with the requirement for Treasury to produce a Wellbeing Report every four years. What's more, governments will no long have to articulate the wellbeing objectives that guide Budget decisions. 'A second tranche of reforms to the Public Finance Act is likely next year, once our committee has completed its inquiry into performance reporting and public accountability,' says Mr Brewer. The bill would amend the Public Finance Act 1989. Among other things, the bill would: introduce more specific disclosure requirements for the statement of specific fiscal risks introduce a requirement to publish a tax expenditure statement repeal the requirement to articulate wellbeing objectives in the Budget Policy Statement repeal the requirement to prepare a wellbeing report amend the publication window for the pre-election economic and fiscal update. Tell the Finance and Expenditure Committee what you think: Make a submission on the bill by 11.59pm on Monday, 7 July 2025.
